Paul Stanley’s Take on Musicians Who Talk Politics: They’re ‘Absurd’

"I don't know what's more embarrassing, these musicians and actors talking about politics in interviews or the media actually giving them credibility about it," KISS legend Paul Stanley tells Noisecreep during a recent chat. The singer/guitarist was on the line to discuss Monster, KISS' upcoming 20th studio album, when we asked him why he's always been so guarded about his political views in the press.

The subject came up because Gene Simmons (his KISS bandmate) has been very vocal as of late, when it comes to his Republican views. "It's absurd that a celebrity could speak out on the economy or politics with no more justification than a hit album or a movie. Not to deride Gene, but I just think he's part of a symptom of absurdity where you'll see somebody on television whose only criteria for being there is success in a field far away from what they're being asked about. I really don't know who is more ridiculous, the celebrity answering these political questions or the person asking them," said the 60-year-old New York native.

"I'm usually not at a loss for words, but this whole celebrity political thing always gets me," laughs the rocker. "It's so embarrassing to see people with absolutely no inside knowledge of anything they are talking about. I have friends who are intimately involved with world affairs and these are the people who won't give opinions like these celebrities do. For my friends, it's far more complex and sensitive than that, unlike these celebrities who read some newspaper story, or watch CNN, and then spout out some opinion on something they truly don't know anything about."

Stanley then remembered a story regarding a famously politically outspoken actor: "Years ago, Tim Robbins was on television getting some kind of award. He then starts saying something about how America should let all of the Haitian people with AIDS into the country. All I could think was, 'Fine, you should hire them to work in your house!' It was crazy [laughs]. Yeah, all this celebrity politics stuff, count me out."

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KISS will unleash the Monster on Oct. 9. Pre-order your copy of the album on iTunes today and stay tuned for more from our chat with Stanley!